# Acceleration Calculator (a = Δv / Δt)

Calculate acceleration from initial velocity, final velocity, and time. Also computes distance covered and average velocity.

## What this calculates

Acceleration is the rate at which an object's velocity changes over time. Whether a car is speeding up, a ball is being thrown, or a rocket is launching, acceleration quantifies how quickly motion changes. Enter your initial velocity, final velocity, and time to calculate acceleration, distance traveled, and average velocity.

## Inputs

- **Initial Velocity (u)** (m/s)
- **Final Velocity (v)** (m/s)
- **Time** (s) — min 0

## Outputs

- **Acceleration** (m/s²) — Rate of change of velocity
- **Distance Covered** (m) — Distance traveled during acceleration (s = ut + ½at²)
- **Average Velocity** (m/s) — Mean velocity over the time interval

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: What is acceleration?**

A: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. It is a vector quantity measured in meters per second squared (m/s²). Positive acceleration means speeding up in the direction of motion, while negative acceleration (deceleration) means slowing down.

**Q: What is the difference between acceleration and velocity?**

A: Velocity describes how fast an object is moving and in what direction, while acceleration describes how quickly the velocity itself is changing. An object can have a high velocity but zero acceleration if it is moving at constant speed in a straight line.

**Q: Can acceleration be negative?**

A: Yes. Negative acceleration (often called deceleration) occurs when an object slows down. For example, when you apply the brakes in a car, the acceleration is negative because the velocity is decreasing over time.

**Q: What is the acceleration due to gravity?**

A: On Earth's surface, the acceleration due to gravity is approximately 9.81 m/s² (often rounded to 9.8 or 10 m/s²). This means a freely falling object increases its velocity by about 9.81 m/s every second, ignoring air resistance.

**Q: How is acceleration related to force?**

A: According to Newton's Second Law, F = ma, so acceleration equals force divided by mass (a = F/m). A larger force produces a greater acceleration, and a larger mass requires more force to achieve the same acceleration.

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Source: https://vastcalc.com/calculators/physics/acceleration
Category: Physics
Last updated: 2026-04-21